ONCE acclaimed as the “new Garbo” Anita Björk was one of Sweden’s most respected actresses who went on to enjoy a lengthy affair with writer Graham Greene after he became infatuated.

During her career she appeared in more than 100 roles, many directed by Ingmar Bergman, but it was her performance as the lead in the 1951 film Miss Julie which captured Hollywood’s attention and earned the movie the grand prize at that year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Not long afterwards it was reported that Alfred Hitchcock was so impressed with Björk in Miss Julie that he was ready to offer her the female lead in his 1953 film I Confess opposite Montgomery Clift but the offer never materialised and it went to Anne Baxter.

Asked why she never became a big star in Hollywood, Björk said in 2003 that she thought the reason was due to her then married lover, the Swedish writer Stig Dagerman, and their illegitimate daughter.

Born in Tällberg in central Sweden, Björk attended the Royal Dramatic Theatre’s acting school from 1942 to 1945 and three years later appeared in Jean Genet’s play The Maids which made her a household name.

During her career she appeared in more than 100 roles, but it was her performance as the lead in the 1951 film Miss Julie which captured Hollywood’s attention and earned the movie the grand prize at that year’s Cannes Film Festival

After the disappointment of losing out to Baxter, Björk went on to star opposite Gregory Peck in Night People in 1954, the same year she met Greene.

A year earlier she had married Dagerman but within 12 months he had committed suicide.

Following his death she concentrated on acting at Stockholm’s Royal Dramatic Theatre.

Over the years she performed in 12 Bergman productions, including The Image Makers in 1998.

The actress last performed in AR Gurney’s Love Letters at the Royal Dramatic Theatre in 2009.

Prior to Dagerman, Björk had been married to the actor Olof Bergström. They divorced in 1951.

She is survived by her son Jonas Bergström and her daughter Lo Dagerman.